enzymes

• What are enzymes?


  Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms
• How do enzymes affect chemical reactions?


  They lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur
• What are the main components of enzymes?


  Enzymes are typically proteins, though some can be RNA molecules
• What does it mean that enzymes are substrate specific?


  Each enzyme works on specific molecules called substrates
• Why are enzymes considered reusable?


  They are not used up in reactions and can be used repeatedly
• Why are enzymes essential for life?


  They are crucial for processes like digestion, metabolism, and DNA replication
• What is the active site of an enzyme?


  A specific region where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs
• How does the shape of an enzyme affect its function?

  The shape determines its specificity and which substrates it can interact with
• What is the lock-and-key model?


  A model that explains how enzymes work with their specific substrates
• In the lock-and-key model, what does the enzyme represent?


  The enzyme represents the lock
• What does the substrate represent in the lock-and-key model?


  The substrate represents the key that fits into the lock
• What happens when the substrate fits into the enzyme's active site?


  The enzyme can perform its specific reaction
• What occurs if the substrate cannot fit into the enzyme's active site?


  No reaction occurs because the enzyme cannot bind to the substrate
• What does binding mean in the context of enzymes?


  Binding means to attach or connect to something, like the enzyme attaching to its substrate
• What is the significance of the enzyme's active site?


  It is where the enzyme interacts with its substrate to catalyze a reaction
• What factors can affect enzyme activity?


  Temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and cofactors
• How does temperature affect enzyme activity?


  Each enzyme has an optimal temperature range for maximum activity
• What happens to enzymes at very high temperatures?


  They can denature and lose their function
• How does pH affect enzyme activity?


  Changes in pH can alter the enzyme's shape and function
• What is the effect of substrate concentration on enzyme activity?


  More substrate generally means faster reactions, up to a point
• How does enzyme concentration affect reaction rates?


  More enzyme typically leads to faster reactions
• What are cofactors and coenzymes?


  They are helper molecules that some enzymes require to function
• What factors affect enzyme activity?

  1. Temperature

  • Enzymes work best at an ideal temperature.
  • Too cold slows them down; too hot denatures them.

  1. pH

  • Enzymes prefer specific acidity or alkalinity.
  • Extreme pH can change their shape and stop function.

  1. Amount of substrate

  • More substrates generally mean more work, up to a point.

  1. Amount of enzyme

  • More enzymes usually lead to faster work.

  1. Helper molecules

  • Some enzymes need cofactors or coenzymes to function properly.
• What happens to enzymes when the temperature is too high?


  They start to denature, losing their shape and decreasing activity.
• What is the effect of extreme pH on enzyme activity?


  Extreme pH can cause enzymes to denature and lose their shape, leading to decreased activity.
• How does increasing the amount of substrate affect enzyme activity?


  More substrates generally increase enzyme activity, up to a saturation point.
• What happens when you increase the amount of enzyme present?

  More enzymes usually lead to faster reactions and increased activity.
• What is competitive inhibition?


  It occurs when an inhibitor similar to the substrate competes for the active site of the enzyme.
• How can competitive inhibition be overcome?


  By increasing the concentration of the substrate.
• What is non-competitive inhibition?


  It occurs when an inhibitor binds to a site other than the active site, changing the enzyme's shape.
• Can non-competitive inhibition be overcome by increasing substrate concentration?


  No, it cannot be overcome by increasing substrate concentration.
• Why is enzyme inhibition important?


  It regulates metabolic processes and is the basis for many drugs and poisons.
• What are the two main types of enzyme inhibition?

  1. **Competitive inhibition**

  • Inhibitor competes with substrate for active site.
  • Can be overcome by increasing substrate concentration.

  1. **Non-competitive inhibition**

  • Inhibitor binds to a different site, changing enzyme shape.
  • Cannot be overcome by increasing substrate concentration.